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HLSTOllKiAL DISCOURSE 



UF.r.ATIVK TO Till". 



South Grotou Christian Union 



£ 



Viul the First Unitarian Parish 



AY EK, MASS., 

1S04—1885, 

BY L Y M AN CLARK, 

MIXIbTKK OK THK I'AKISU. 



AVER, MASS. : 
TORN It. TIRXF-K. PIUVIT.It 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 



RELATIVE TO THE 



South Groton Christian Union, 

lS5S—lS0i, 

And the First Unitarian Parish 

OF 

AYER, MASS., 

186^—1885, 



BY LYMAN CLARK, 

AlINISTER OF THE PAKISU. 



-r'<<^0^^>^^>^^ 



AVER, MASS. : 
JOHN H, TURNER, PRINTER 



^ zo // 
'O/ 

Original hymn, written for the ordination of Rev. Wm. 
A. Start, by Mrs. R. B. Sanders : 

Eternal Father, God of Love, 

We raise our hearts as suppHants now ; 

Thy choicest blessing from above 
On him, thy servant, now bestow. 

Teach him thy heavenly truths to tell, 

With upright heart and holy hands, 
As the sweet dews of Hermon fell — 

As manna on the desert sands. 

Make him a true disciple. Lord, 

The faint to cheer, the stricken bless, 

The poor in spirit fill with words 
Of comfort, and true holiness. 

O, give him strength and power divine, 
Thy word to teach, thy love to prove; 

Forever may his spirit shine 

Bright as thy glorious stars above. 



rn A 



u 



PREFATORY NOTE. 



Upon taking pastoral charf^c of the Parisli, the writer 
was naturally desirous of learning something of its history. 
Upon inquiry it appeared that members of the First Con- 
gregational Unitarian society, as it was then called, sup- 
- posed that the South Groton Christian Union was the first 
church of South Groton. The Baptist society also claimed 
to be the first church of the place. It seemed proper that 
such a question of historical fact should be settled beyond 
dispute and in general, that the story of the origin and 
growth of the Parish be learned and preserved for the ben- 
efit of those who come after. 

Inasmuch as the South Groton Christian Union was 
an independent society with no denominational association, 
excepting as a Christian Church, some may question the 
propriety of connecting its history with that of the society 
after it sought fellowship with first the Universalist and af- 
terwards the Unitarian body. It is a suiificient answer to 
all scruples of this character to note that the corporate or- 
ganization has been continuous, that no changes of the cov- 
enant were made in connection with those changes of name, 
that the property and records have remained in unquestion- 
ed possession of the one church corporation. This organ- 
ization, as a religious society, has attained its thirtieth year, 
although the present association with the Unitarian body 
has been during a shorter period. 

It remains only to add that for all errors, if such shall 
be discovered, in the use of sources of information, for the 
other imperfection of the discourse and for its being given 
to the press, the author must accept sole responsibility. If 
he shall have contributed to a more satisfactory result by 
some other hand, he will be repaid for the labor. In sev- 
eral cases further information would have been given, had 
not the duty of deferring to the pleasure of others, forbid- 
den. 

The discourse was originally delivered before the soci- 
ety Feb. I, 1885, and subsequently revised for publication. 
The fifth day of September being the thirtieth anniversary 
of the dedication of the first house of worship built in 
South Groton suggested a suitable date for sending the 
manuscrij^t to the printer. Several circumstances have led 
to some delay of the issue from the press. 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 
"About thirty years of age." — Luke iii: 23. 

Previous to the year 1853 religious services in South 
Groton appear to have been chiefly conducted by persons 
of the Baptist denomination. A church of this faith was 
organized in the year 185 i ; that society from its beginning 
worshiping at private houses, the old brick school-house 
which stood in the rear of this church edifice, the " White 
school-house," which stood where the high school building 
now stands, the Worcester and Nashua railway station and 
Pingry hall, which is now the Union house. That church 
association is entitled to whatever honor comes from being 
the first religious society organized in South Groton.* 

Previous to and after the time of the organization of 
that church there appear to have been those who desired 
services of a different character, the evidence, in part, of 
which is a circular-sheet dated Sept. 28, 1853, issued in be- 
half of an association formed to erect a chapel for worship, 
no church edifice having previously existed in South Gro- 
ton. From this circular we learn that Rev. J. Cooper is- 
sued a call for a meeting "for the purpose of taking into 
consideration the subject of building a meeting-house or 
chapel, and attending to other business mentioned in the 
call." Articles of association were adopted, the preamble 
to which declares that " This meeting being desirous of 
promoting the glory of God and the spiritual interests of 
our fellow men, we deem it expedient to erect a meeting- 
house at South Groton to be known by the name of the 
South Groton Union Chapel, for which purpose this meet- 
ing has been called together and the following resolutions, 
or articles, have been prepared, and are now submitted for 
its consideration." After the adoption of the preamble and 
articles of the building association, Nathaniel Stone, Calvin 
Fletcher, Robert Woods, David Chambers and Walter 
Lackey were chosen a committee to procure a site ; Rev. J. 
Cooper, Calvin Fletcher, Robert Woods, David Chambers 
and Ebenezer Willis a building committee; Benj. Felch 
collector, and Calvin Fletcher treasurer. 

CHAPEL ERECTED. 

Rev. Mr. Cooper came to the place as a Methodist, but 
sought and obtained recognition by the Trinitarian Congre- 



•Minutes of the Wachusett Baptist Association, 1883, Allen's History of the Baptist Church. 



gationalists, his labors coming to an early close. But the 
movement in favor of a chapel went forward and it was fin- 
ished in the spring of 1855. A church organization was 
effected on the twelfth of the following August by the 
adoption of the " Covenant of the South Groton Christian 
Union," which was written by Rev. David Fosdick, who 
had preached for the Union society after the departure of 
Mr. Cooper. The chapel built, a church society organized, 
a formal dedication of the house of worship took place on 
the fifth of September, Rev. Timothy Atkinson of Brook- 
lyn, N. Y., Rev. Washington Gilbert of Harvard, Rev. Da- 
vid Fosdick of Groton and Rev. Charles Babbidge of Pep- 
perell. taking part in the services. The discourse, which 
was by Mr. Fosdick, was entitled " Sect is Sin," and was 
published. It ably set forth the views of the preacher 
against all sectarianism and in favor of a union of all upon 
the Christian foundation. The whole doctrinal position of 
the Union at the time was expressed by the first article of 
its constitution, which declared that " This society shall be 
called the South Groton Christian Union, and its object 
shall be to promote the kingdom of God in our hearts and 
the hearts of others through the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
the Son of God." 

Upon the completion of the Union Chapel the Bap- 
tist society immediately began to build and dedicated its 
house of worship in the year 1856. First as a religious so- 
ciety it was second in the erection of a church edifice. 
This explains the diverse impressions which are found 
among the people relative to which was the earlier. The 
Union society was the first to erect a house of worship, 
the Baptist society first in respect to religious organization. 
The honors of precedence to this extent are divided. 

Mr. Fosdick having been chosen pastor of the Union 
society, Aug. 27, 1855, his ministry continued until July i, 
i860, or about five years. He had served the parish with 
little regard to pecuniary considerations and at the time of 
the close of the pastorate was earnestly devoted to the in- 
terests of the society. He had previously been [xistor of 
the Hollis-st. church, Boston, and had preached at Sterling. 

SECOND PASTOR. 

The second pastor of the society was Rev. William 
A. Start, who was born March i, 1837, educated at 
Tuft's college, class 1862, had pastoral charge of the 



society from March i, i86r, and was ordained and in- 
stalled September 24, 1862. The order of services in- 
cluded an invocation by Rev. E. De Normandie of 
Littleton, scripture reading by Rev. H. H. Barber of Har- 
vard, orio;inal hymn by Mrs. R. B. Sanders, ordaining 
prayer by Rev. E. T. St. John of Worcester, charge to the 
pastor by Rev. J. L. Fletcher of Lowell, right hand of fel- 
lowship by Rev^ C. B. Lombard of Shirley Village, address 
to the people by Rev. C. Nightingale. Mr. Start resigned 
April 30, 1863. Of the Universalist denomination, he has 
since been secretary of the Massachusetts Universalist 
Convention, with which the society was in fellowship dur- 
ing his pastorate. 

THIRD PASTOR. 

Information is received that Rev. Mr. Whitney was 
employed by the society for some time, and an entry in 
the records of Jan. 2, 1865 shows that it was unanimously 
" Voted : That it is desirable to secure the services of Mr. 
Clark as minister of the society." The speaker is not 
aware what Mr. Clark is referred to as having been honored 
by choice to the pastorate. It does not appear that the 
choice took effect, for Rev. Josiah K. Waite was formally 
installed May 24 of the year 1865. The invocation was by 
Rev. Seth Chandler of Shirley, reading of scriptures by 
Rev. H. H. Barber of Harvard, sermon by Rev. Ezra S. 
Gannett, D. D., of Boston, prayer of installation by Rev. 
Ephraim Abbott of Westford, charge by Rev. Alonzo Hill 
of Worcester, right hand of fellowship by Rev. G. M. Bar- 
tol of Lancaster, address to the church by Rev. Charles 
Babbidge of Pepperell, concluding prayer by Rev. Craw- 
ford Nightingale. Rev. Geo. M. Rice was scribe of the 
council. Mr. Waite was born in Sterling, Mass., fitted for 
college at Leicester Academy, graduated at Harvard in 
1829, and completed his studies for the ministry in 1832 at 
the Cambridge Divinity School. He had been settled at 
Fitzwilliam, N. H., Gloucester, Mass., where he had a long 
and successful pastorate, in Fall River and in Maiden. He 
was married June 3. 1833, to Abbie Cogswell Gibbon who 
died at Ayer, Nov. 7, 1865. She was a woman of rare 
gifts and beauty of character. A memorial of her life was 
published by her husband. Mr. Waite and Sarah Elizabeth 
Howe, his second wife, were married April 21, 1867. 

In the year 1867 Mr. Waite asked the society to settle a 
colleague, which the society voted to do, but later, very 



properly, it may be assumed, reconsidered its action, which 
was followed by the resij^nation of the j^astor. Pending 
this action Rev. Mr. Brown was invited to become associate 
pastor of the society and satisfactory conditions were ar- 
ranged which were cancelled by reconsideration. Mr. 
Waite died in Boston, November, 1872. Rev. Henry A. 
Miles, D. D., who was in collei;e, divinity school and pro- 
fessional life the friend of Mr. Waite, speaks of him as "a 
man of practical good sense, of a kind heart, having a 
strong desire to be useful. He was respectable as a 
preacher, little given to controversial discourses, and inter- 
ested chiefly in enforcing the duties of an upright, sincere 
and devout life." 

THE FOURTH PASTOR. 

Rev. Crawford Nightingale was born at Providence, 
R. I., November 3, 18 16, being the son of Samuel Night- 
ingale and I'Llizabeth Kinnicutt Nightingale, ncc Thompson. 
He attended a private school at Providence — Roswell C. 
Smith, instructor; entered Brown University September, 
1830, graduating in 1834; ])repared for the ministry at 
Cambridge, 1 835-1 838. Having been ordained at Provi- 
dence, November, 1838, he subsequently served in the 
ministry at Charlemont, Heath, Shelburne and Greenfield, 
Mass.. followed by service as minister-at-large, Lowell, and 
pastorates at Chicopee and Athol. He was married at 
Athol to Mary Hoyt Williams, daughter of William Henry 
and l'>ances Wisewell Williams, ncc Humphrey. He had 
served on local school committees. 

Mr. Nightingale was invited to the pastorate by vote of 
the society, Oct. 12, 1867, and was installed April 8. 1868. 
Rev. Henry F. Jenks offered the invocation ; Rev. Calvin 
Stebbins preached from the words — " God is not the God 
of the dead, but of the living ; " Rev. G. M. Bartol offered 
the prayer of installation ; Rev. W. P. Tilden gave the 
charge to the pastor ; Rev. A. B. Vorse, the right hand of 
fellowship ; Rev. Seth Chandler, the address to the people ; 
Rev. Charles Babbidge, the concluding prayer. 

THE FIRE. 

Seventeen years, let us suppose, have passed since the 
spring when the first chapel in South Groton was built, 
it is now standing in the newly-incorporated town of Ayer. 
The records show that during a considerable portion of this 
time the society was incumbered with debt. The meetings 



8 

held for business purposes were often occupied with the 
raising of means to meet the obHgations of the corporation. 
But these appear to have been so far disposed of as to per- 
mit of the thought of church extension. A meeting was 
called Saturday evening, March 2, 1872, the chief item of 
business of which appears to have been — " To take into 
consideration repairing, remodeling and enlarging of the 
church, the building of a vestry room and any other rooms 
that may be thought desirable for the benefit and conven- 
ience of the society. The meeting was repeatedly ad- 
journed until April 13. A committee had been chosen to 
consider and report upon the necessary repairs. This com- 
mittee apparently not ready to report, further adjourn- 
ment was ordered for two weeks. The record which fol- 
lows is by Abel Prescott, who was for many years parish 
clerk : 

"About three hours after the adjournment of this meet- 
ing a fire was discovered in a building on Main street, oc- 
cupied by J. F. Boynton and owned by Samuel Reed, it 
apparently having started from an unoccupied billiard room 
in the second story. It spread rapidly and soon eight other 
buildings were on fire. The wind being westerly, it spread 
easterly on the north side of Main street, and before four 
o'clock on Sunday morning, April 14, about forty buildings 
were destroyed, including the Unitarian church and almost 
the entire business portion of the town, the loss being es- 
timated at from one hundred and fifty to two hundred 
thousand dollars, a terrible blow to Ayer. The Unitarian 
society lost their church, the bell, the only one in town, 
ringing out the alarm until the flames had fastened upon 
the tower in which it hung. The morning sun looked down 
upon several acres of blackened waste where the most val- 
uable portion of the town had stood a few hours before. 

The special meeting called to repair, remodel and enlarge 
the meeting house was no longer required, and its record 
stopped with the night of the fire that proved so destructive 
to the town." 

BEAUTY FOR ASHES. 

The scriptures tell us of a promise to " them that mourn 
in Zion," of "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning 
and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness," a 
promise fulfilled even to us. There are many pleasant fea- 
tures to be recalled in connection with the proceedings for 
the rebuilding of a house of worship. With liberal courtesy 



the Orthodox Congregational Society offered the use of 
their church, which may well be remembered today with 
thanks. Superintendent C. L. Heywood, in behalf of the 
Fitchburg railway, offered the use of the refreshment room 
at the station, and an informal meeting was held there on 
the Saturday evening after the fire. The thanks of the 
society for courtesies received were duly exj^ressed, and a 
committee chosen "to solicit aid in building a new church." 
That committee consisted of Rev. Crawford Nightingale, 
R. P. Woods, Abel Prescott, P. S. Ric'i, Abil L. Lawton 
and Henry A. Woods. The same duty was subsequently 
passed to R. P. Woods, L. W. Phelps, Henry A. Wood.s, 
R. R. Fletcher, A. L. Lawton and J. C. Parsons. 

The offer of the use of the refreshment room for relig- 
ious service was accepted, and one service maintained, this, 
apparently, being the beginning of the continuous usage of 
one service of preaching on Sunday, instead of two. The 
organist, Miss Mary J. Bancroft, offered the salary due her 
toward building the new church. A committee on location 
and plan of building, consisting of Rev. Crawford Nightin- 
gale, L. W. Phelps and A. L. Lawton, was chosen. This 
meeting being informal a second one was called in due form 
to ratify the action taken, the notice being posted upon an 
oak tree which remained upon the lot near where the church 
stood, and upon the door of the refreshment room at the 
station, where the society worshipped. After using the re- 
freshment room for a time the society worshipped in a hall 
offered them by Mr. Harvey A. Woods, who also purchased 
and chiefly contributed the communion plate used by the 
society. 

In due time the stately and beautiful church edifice, de- 
signed by Messrs. Earle and Fuller of Worcester, architects, 
and built by Messrs. Henry C. Sherwin and Charles F. 
Williamson, was erected on land purchased of Mary A. W. 
Champney and George H. Champney. The vestry was 
first occupied for worship, the auditorium being without 
pews or organ, which were provided later, largely through 
the efficient labors of John E. Hosmer. The church was 
dedicated Sept. i, 1875. l^'^^'- Warren Cudworth of East 
Boston, Rev. Charles Babbidge of Pepperell, Rev. Seth 
Chandler of Shirley, Rev. Mr. Smith of Tyngsboro' and 
Rev. Joshua Young of Groton, were present and took part 
in the services. 

Mr. Nightingale tendered his resignation, to take effect 



10 

April I, 18^7, having served as minister of the society for 
ten years. His long pastorate, the longest of this society, 
notwithstanding his residence was in another town, was a 
tribute to his abihty and courteous disposition which won 
a large measure of friendship, which still is felt by people 
of the parish and town. The records show that he was 
chairman of the comtnittee on location, the committee on 
plan and committee to solicit funds for the building of the 
new church, his influence co-operating with that of others 
to secure the beautiful and good house of worship which 
was erected during his ministry. 

THE FIFTH PASTOR. 

Rev. Alfred Everett Goodnough, the fifth pastor, 
was born at Montpelier, Vt., April 10, 1855, being the 
son of Alfred Goodnough and Harriet Newell Good- 
nough, nee Wheelock. He attended the high school, 
the Bishop Scott Grammar and Divinity School, Portland, 
Oregon, and the Meadville Theological School, graduating 
in 1878, subsequently taking a post-graduate course at the 
Harvard Divinity School. Mr. Goodnough was ordained as 
pastor of this society Sept. 11, 1878, having had charge of 
the parish since June previous. 

The order of services included an invocation by Rev. 
Charles Babbidge ; reading of the scriptures by Rev. Geo. 
S. Shaw ; original hymn by Mr. Hobart Clark ; sermon by 
Rev. Amory D. Mayo of Springfield; ordaining prayer by 
Rev. J. L. Seward of Lowell ; right hand of fellowship by 
Rev. Granville Pierce of Medfield ; charge to the pastor by 
Rev. Rush R. Shippen of Boston ; address to the people 
by Rev. Crawford Nightingale of Boston ; concluding 
prayer by Rev. Joshua Young of Groton. The pastorate 
closed in July, 1879. 

Good report is heard of his work while here, and more 
especially of the interest in the services. He has been 
since settled at Bridgewater, from which place he went to 
Brockton, where a society was organized and a church 
built during his ministry. Mr. Goodnough was married 
Sept. 21, 1880, to Annie P'rances Bartlett, the daughter of 
Walter Frederick and Annie Maria Bartlett, nee Curtis, of 
New York city. 

SIXTH pastor. 

Rev. Rushton D. Burr was engaged by the parish com- 
mittee. His pastoral labors beginning April i, 1880, con- 
tinued two years. His dignified and scholarly culture. 



ir 

agreeable address and devotion to the higher religious in- 
terests will be remembered. The parish recorded its ap- 
preciation of his labors thus, — " Resolved, that we hereljy 
recognize the faithful and earnest efforts with which he has 
endeavored to strengthen the cause of liberal Christianity 
in our church and Sunday school; that socially we shall 
miss his cordial greeting, and our earnest prayer is that 
peace, happiness and prosperity may attend him wherever 
he may be." 

SICVKNTH PASTOR. 

Of the present pastor it is not becoming that I should 
speak further than to present a few facts belonging to the 
records. 

The seventh pastor was born Dec. 30, 1838, near the 
town of Buckhannon, Upshur County, West Va., Sago post- 
of^ce having been since established at the birthplace. He 
was the son of Cornelius Clark, born at Bridgewater, Mass., 
and Abigail Clark, nee Wright, born at Westford, Mass. 
He attended private schools in West Va., and after the re- 
moval of the family to Illinois he enlisted in the 5th Illi- 
nois Volunteer Cavalry in 1861, serving more than four 
years in the successive grades of sergeant, second lieuten- 
ant and captain. Entered the Meadville Theological School 
in [865. graduating in 1869. Has been successively em- 
ployed in the ministry at Jacksonville, 111., seven months ; 
Lancaster, N. H., three years and a half ; Petersham, Mass., 
eight years. Served as representative to the General 
Court of Massachusetts from the ninth Worcester district, 
1879, being upon the committees upon education and par- 
ishes and religious societies. Has served ten years upon 
local school committees. Lyman Clark and Isabel Clough 
were married at Bethel, Maine, June 11, 1872. Miss 
Clough was born at Bath, N. H., being the daughter of 
Eber and Susan Clough, nee Stevens. Pastoral labors 
at this place were begun on the first Sunday of Septem- 
ber, 1882. The installation service was delayed, for the 
purpose of first removing the indebtedness of the society 
on account of the church edifice, until March 7, 1884. At 
that time the order of services was as follows : Invocation 
by Rev. Geo. S. Shaw of Ashby ; reading of the scriptures 
by Rev. Henry C. Parker of Nashua ; sermon by Rev. 
Grindall Reynolds, secretary of the American Unitarian 
Association; prayer of installation by Rev. Joshua Young 
of Groton ; charge by Rev. Charles Babbidge of i'epperell ; 



•12 

right hand by Rev. Josiah L. Seward of Lowell ; address 
to the people by Rev. Alfred E. Goodnough ; concluding 
prayer by Rev. Henry F. Jenks of Lawrence. 

The society had received toward the discharge of its 
debt the most liberal co-operation of the American Unita- 
rian Association, the North Middlesex Conference, the 
Massachusetts Evangehcal Missionary Association and 
many friends. 

UNITARIAN NAME. 

The Unitarian name was first taken Nov. 21, 1864, or a 
little more than twenty years ago, the form of the name 
having been altered several times. It was first the South 
Groton Christian Union, this name being taken in 1855. 
In the year 1862 Ihe name "Union Society" was chosen. 
Two years later, or 1864, the name " Unitarian Society " was 
taken, which was further amended in 1867 so as to read 
"The F"irst Congregational Unitarian Society," the name 
at the present time being the " First Unitarian Parish of 
Ayer." 

The covenant or constitution never contained anything 
that was inconsistent with the Unitarian position ; no creed 
doctrinally objectionable to Unitarians has ever been held, 
and the Unitarians of the town have not wavered in the 
support of the society. 

The nucleus of Unitarian sentiment and belief in South 
Groton was found in the families of Nathaniel Stone, Val- 
ancourt Stone, Calvin Fletcher, Rufus Fletcher, Nahum 
Stone, Abel Stone and others. To this nucleus was added 
from Shirley, the families of Thomas Page, Alfred Page, 
Henry A. Bro^n, Harvey A. Woods, Moses Woods, Sam- 
uel Farnsworth, Robert Woods, Levi J. Giddings, O. N. 
Wing and others, who wholly or in part gave support to 
the Unitarian society. The remaining families have come 
from various places. 

The form of the original covenant has been given. 
While the name of the society and form of organization 
were at different times changed, the statement of object re- 
mained substantially the same until the year 1884 when 
a still shorter statement was adopted, as follows: "We 
whose names are subscribed, unite to promote the true 
worship of God and the welfare of mankind." 

The church constitution adopted May 13, 1883, is based 
upon this statement of purpose : " As disciples of Jesus we 
unite to promote the true worship of God and welfare of 



13 

mankind with all the interests of pure rcHf,non and religious 
culture." It will be seen that the language of these state- 
ments was in part suggested by the conversation of Jesus 
with the Samaritan women to whom he said, "The hour 
Cometh and now is, when the true worshipers shall wor- 
ship the p-ather in spirit and in truth, for the Father seek- 
eth such to worship him." 

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 

The church organization within the parish began with 
the pastorate of Rev. R. D. Hurr, previous to that time one 
organization representing both church and parish. Thirty- 
two names are entered in the church book. The objects 
of the church and parish being essentially the same, entire 
harmony of action has been and should be found. 

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 

Records of the Sunday school are found which begin 
with the year 1862, when a constitution vi^as adopted at an 
"annual meeting" which shows that a school had been 
previously maintained. The superintendent for the year 
1862 was Abel Prescott ; Geo. H. Greenwood, assistant. 
Among the other names which have followed, either as su- 
perintendent or assistant, are those of Edwin F. Stearns, 
O. N. Wing, H. P. Ross, Gibson Smith. J. Q. A. McCol- 
lester. m. d., Samuel F'arnsworth, Rev. J. K. Waite, Eugene 
Turner, Daniel W. P'letcher, Edward P"letcher, Geo. H. Hill, 
Hattie J. F"letcher, P>ed Farnsworth, Geo. Child, and Dea. 
H. A. Brown, who has served continuously since the year 
1869, with the exception of two years. 

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. 

The social organization of the parish is and has been, 
chiefly in the hands of the women. I find records which 
begin with a revised constitution adopted in the year 1866, 
or nineteen years ago. There have been older records, as 
shown by the fact that the earliest at hand present a revised 
organization. It is very desirable that the old records 
should be found and preserved if in existence. The pur- 
pose of the society was stated in the records of 1866 thus: 
*' The object shall be to promote the interests of the parish 
by our own spiritual culture, by mutually encouraging and 
strengthening a bond of Christian sympathy and love, and 
by obtaining funds for the aid of the parish, which shall al- 
wa}s be expended in charity or otherwise by vote of the 
society." 



14 

The social meeting, as shown by the records, have been 
held at private houses, the vestry of the church and some- 
times in a grove. Doubtless the open-air meetings have 
been as pleasant occasions as any that have been held. 
During the appropriate season they are worthy of repeti- 
tion. During the previous eight years the women of the 
parish have by their meetings raised more than two thous- 
and dollars for parish purposes. 

THE CHOIR. 

No records appear to be at hand to show the names of 
those who have been members of the choir. Reports agree 
in affirming that a high standard of musical excellence has 
been maintained. The organ was purchased in the year 
1875, it now havipg been used by the society ten years. It 
previously belonged to the Unitarian church at Fitchburg. 
The persons reported as having acted as organists, either 
at the old church or the new, are Mrs. Rebecca B. Sanders, 
Miss Lucy Woods, Mrs. Lizzie Lapham Turner, Miss Mary 
Bancroft, Mr. M. M. Heath, Miss Bessie Boynton, and Miss 
Agnes B. Sanders. 

THIRTY YEARS. 

It will be thirty years next spring since the chapel of 
the South Groton Christian Union was built, thirty years 
next August since the Union society was organized, and 
thirty years next September since the first house of wor- 
ship in this part of the old town was built. Surely there 
is reason for gratification in view of the progress of the 
thirty years in respect to the developrnents of the town, 
which now contains four religious societies which are 
housed, and a fifth which worships in a hall. 

The builders of the old church did not look forward to so 
beautiful and well appointed a house as this, and when the 
fire came it was not in the thought of those who gathered 
upon those acres of ashes, that Sunday morning, that this 
beauty would spring from them. But so, in the providence 
of God, it has been ordered, fulfilling the scriptures, " beauty 
for ashes," in the most literal sense. It is honorable to the 
spot on which the former house was built, that it is now 
occupied by a noble town hall, dedicated to public use. 

It has not been possible for me to recognize the labors 
of all who have contributed to these results. It is often 
true, as it doubtless has been here, that noblest service is 
rendered by nameless hands. It is to be hoped that all 



15 

have been rewarded in the past, "blessed in the work," as 
the scriptures declare of those who look into ','the perfect 
law of liberty and continue therein." And let it be hoped 
that the parish has a future reward in the opportunity for 
usefulness which a o^rowing place, a railway center, affords. 
May we be faithful to that opportunity as stewards who 
must render account. 



APPENDIX A. 

MEMP.ERSHIP. 

Forty-three persons signed the covenant of the South 
Groton Christian Union, as adopted Aug. 12, 1855, their 
names being, — 



David Fosdick. 
Sarah L. Fosdick, 
Nathaniel Stone, 
Lydia Stone, 
Haivey A. Woods, 
Susan G. Woods, 
John M. Porter, 
P. C. Litchfield, 
Robert P. Woods, 
Wm. Durant, 
John Park, 
Sophia H. Park, 
Abel Prescott, 
Aug. K. Porter, 
Joseph Waugh, 
F. D. Waugh, 
William Planchard, 
liunice Hlanchard, 
Elizabeth Blanchard, 
Nahum Stone, 
Abby A. Stone, 



Mary Ann Willard, 
Calvin D. Blanchard, 
Benjamin F. Felch, 
Ebenezer Willis, 
George T. Woodbury, 
Marah B. Woodbury, 
B. H. Ruggles, 
Anna Ruggles, 
Calvin Fletcher, 
Levi W. Phelps, 
¥. G. Lufkin, 
A. Hutchinson, 
Fannie Hutchinson, 
Harriet W. Hutchin.son, 
PVancis L. Ware, 
A. W. Churchill, 
Timothy Frye, 
George H. (ireenwood, 
J. D. Wing, 
L. W. Woods, 
Artemas Wright. 



Jerome H. Willard, 

Dates of signatures are not given. 

The society having been reorganized March 3, 1862, 
thirty names were attached to the constitution. Those in 
addition to the names of the previous list were as follows : 
Rufus R. Fletcher, G. H. Rich, 

Henry E. Spraguc, H. A. Brown, 

J. C. Parsons, Peter Tarbell, 



16 



A. S. Tuttle, 
P. S. Rich, . 

B. L. Howe, 

J. Q. A. McCollester, 
W. A. Start, 
John Sprague, 
Augustus Dike, 
Augustus F. Colburn, 



L. J. Spaulding, 
Valancourt Stone, 
O. N. Wing, 
J. C. Wing, 
Ellen A. Stone, 
Mary F. Willis, 
Eunice W. Smith, 
W. H. Woods. 

The society was again reorganized July 23, 1872. Nine- 
ty-two persons signed the constitution then adopted. The 
names not previously given were, — 



M. W. Woods, 

John E. Hosmer, 

Henry A. Woods, 

Nath'l Holden, 

Abel L. Lawton, 

T. W. Page, 

J. F. Hill, 

Lydia S. Sprague, 

Sarah H. Giddings, 

William Mitchell, 

Mrs. C. C. Parsons, 

Sarah J. Brown, 

Ellen A. Stone, 

Lizzie B. Turner, 

Mrs. L. J. Spaulding, 

Abbie A. Tuttle, 

Mrs. George Greenwood, 

Arthur Fenner, 

Emma Augusta Fenner, 

Miriam O. Hill, 

J. P. Billings, 

Sarah J. Billings, 

L. A. Buck, 

N. A. Buck, 

G. Tuttle, 

Mary E. Page, 

Agnes M. Sanders, 

Doel Sanders, 



S. 


E. Woods, 


B. 


F. Taft, 


C. 


E. Taft, 


A 


D. Simmons, 


R. 


B. Simmons, 



Charles E. Morrison, 
G. M. Child, 
Mrs. G. M. Child, 
Sylvice Mills, 
Mrs. M. L. Chisholm, 
Olive A. Prescott. 
N. A. Holden, 
Mrs. N. A. Holden, 
Benj. Taft, 
William B. Fenner, 
Mrs. R. M. Southwick, 
Mrs. Charles Perkins, 
Mrs. G. G. Day, 
Sophia Lawton, 
G. L. McCollester, 
Hattie J. Fletcher, 
E. H. Bigelow, 
Mrs. E. H. Bigelow, 

E. M. Carter, 

F. G. Templeton, 
Ella F. Phelps, 
Alfred Page, 
Geo. H. Child, 
Walter Beebe, 
H. F. Firmin, 
H. S. Turner, 
Frederick Whitney, 
James McRay, 
Charles H. Ware, 
Mrs. C. H. Ware, 

Mrs. Frederick Whitney, 
Mrs. J. L. Farwell, 
Mrs. S. F. Leslie, 



17 



M. M. Heath, 
Mary A. W. Champney, 
James A. Howe, 
Eugene A. Turner, 



Miss Florence E. Day, 
Miss Mary Shervvin, 
Isabel Clark, 
Lyman Clark. 



CONSTITUTION OF 1 884. 

A revised form of organization having been adopted Feb. 
18, 1884, the entire list of signatures, one hundred and 
seventeen in number, may properly be given as represent- 
ing substantially the present membership of the parish. 
Many changes by death, removal, or otherwise, will be 
noted in this list. The delay of publication permits of giv- 
ing all signatures received to Jan. 6, 1886. 
Arthur Fenner, 
W. B. Fenner, 
Mrs. VV. B. Fenner, 
Levi W. Phelps, 
Alfred Page, 
Lydia Stone, 
Nahum Stone, 
Abby Stone, • 
H. A. Woods, 
Susan G. Woods, 
John Q. A. McCollester, 
Georgiana L. McCollester, 
Lizzie B. Turner, 
Abbott W. Turner, 
Olive A. Prescott, 
L. J. Spaulding, 
Rebecca Spaulding, 
Sophia Lawton, 
Eunice W. Smith, 
B. F. Taft, 
Caroline E. Taft, 
F. F. Leslie, 
Sarah J. Leslie, 
Mary A. W. Champney, 
M. W. Woods, 
Geo. M. Child, 
Rosina Q. Child, 
John E. Hosmer, 
Mrs. G. G. Day, 
Florence E. Day, 
George H. Child, 



Henry A. Brown, 
Sarah J. Brown, 
Lyman Clark, 
Isabel Clark, 
Flora L. Bigelow. 
Lizzie E. Champney, 
J. M. Woolford, 
Mariette M. Woolford, 
Sarah J. Fletcher, 
J. H. Fletcher, 
John H. Turner, 
Helen M. Turner, 
Harriet P. Brown, 
Cora E. Hosmer, 
George H. B. Turner, 
Huntley S. Turner, 
Louisa F. Bulkeley, 
FItta M. Carter, 
Walter R. Dickey, 
Jeannette A. Dickey, 
Ellen L. Puffer, 
F. A. F"arnsworth, 
S. P. Farnsworth, 
Margaret B. Farnsworth, 
L. J. Giddings, 
L. F. Giddings, 
George Russell, 
Eliza Russell, 
Mrs. D. W. Fletcher, 
Mary Graves, 
Elizabeth Sprague, 



E. H. Bigelow, 
Mrs. E. H. Bigelow, 
Mrs. L. J. Giddings, 
Mrs. J. L. Far well, 
E. D. Martel, 
S. J. Billings, 
J. P. Billings, 
Nellie A. Buck, 
David J. Whittemore, 
C. H. Ware, 
Mrs. C. H. Ware, 
Benjamin Taft, 
Hattie W. Taft, 
Mrs. E. A. Fenner, 
Sarah R. Perkins, 
J. F. Hill, 
Mrs. Jason F. Hil), 
Mrs. Geo. H. Hill, 
Calvin D. Blanchard, 
Mrs. C. D. Blanchard, 
John M. Haggett, 
Carrie A. Haggett, 
Mrs. M. L. Chisholm, 
Sarah A. Sprague, 
Hattie J. Fletcher, 
Lizzie F. Felch, 
Robert Hume, 
Mrs. Robert Hume. 



18 

Charles E. Spraguer 
Agnes M. Blanch arc?, 
Samuel Blanchard, 
Sally Ann Stone, 
Charles H. Stone, 
Lena M. Phelps, 
Ella M. MeCollester, 
Edward Q. MeCollester, 
Flora A. Leslie, 
Chas. G. Woods, 
Addie C. Woods, 
Charlotte F. Gid'dings,. 
Ella F. Phelps, 
Geo. H. Lovering, 
Anna M. Lovering, 
Ellen Graves, 
Fred Graves, 
Sadie E. P"enner, 
Agnes B. Sanders, 
Edmund Dana Bancroft, 
Phebe Bridge Bancroft, 
Mabel W. Chariipney, 
Emma Augusta Carman, 
H. Austin Stone, 
Estelle L. Hosmer, 
Chas. P. Dwinell, 
Martha P. Cooper, 



APPENDIX B. 

REVISED CONSTITUTION, ADOPTED FEB. 1 8, 1 884, 

We whose names are subscribed, unite to promote the 
true^worship of God and the welfare of mankind. 

Ai'ticle I. The name of this society shall be the " First 
Unitarian Parish of Ayer." 

Art. 2. The membership of this Parish shall consist of 
all^who sign this constitution with the consent of the Parish 
Committee. ■. 

( Art. 3. The officers of this Parish shall be a Clerk, 
Treasurer, Collector, Parish Committee, Board of Asses- 
sors, Pastoral Committee, and Committee on Hospitality. 
All officers "^shall be chosen at the annual meeting, and by 
ballot, excepting the Pastoral Committee and the Committee 



19 

on Hospitality, which may be chosen in any manner the 
Parish may direct. All officers may be instructed or dis- 
placed by others chosen at any meeting regularly called and 
held for the purpose. 

Art. 4. The Clerk shall make a full record of all meet- 
ings of the Parish, and call meetings when directed by the 
Parish committee. 

Art. 5. The Treasurer shall hold, in the name of the 
Parish, all property belonging thereto, and keep an accurate 
account of all money received into or paid out of the treas- 
ury. Money shall be i)aid out only upon an order of a ma- 
jority of the Parish Committee, or a vote of the Parish. 

Art. 6. The collector shall collect all money which may 
be due the Parish, and pay the same duly to the Treasurer, 
who may also receive directly any money due the Parish. 

Art. 7. The Parish Committee shall subject to the direc- 
tion of the Parish, provide for the conduct of religious ser- 
vices, have charge of all financial interests, issue warrants for 
meetings, provide for the proper care of the House of Wor- 
ship, and in all practicable ways promote the welfare of the 
Parish. 

Art. 8. The Pastoral Committee shall perform all spe- 
cial work which may be arranged in consultation with the 
Pastor, or otherwise, for the good of the Parish, or for the 
relief or comfort of any who may be in need. 

Art. 9. The Committee on Hospitality shall give a cor- 
dial welcome to all strangers, and make constant endeavors 
to increase the attendance upon religious services by court- 
eous attention to all who may be present at the services, or 
induced to attend them. 

Art. 10. The annual meeting of the Parish shall be held 
on the first Wednesday in January. Special meetings may 
be called at any time by the Parish Committee, and shall be 
called upon request, in writing, of five or more members of 
the Parish. Notice of all meetings shall be given by post- 
ing a warrant at the door of the house of worship, two Sun- 
days previous to the time of the meeting. The warrant 
shall plainly and distinctly state the objects for which any 
meeting shall be called. 

Art. II. Amendments or a revision of this constitution 
may be voted by a majority of any meeting of the Parish, 
provided that such amendments or revision shall have been 
proposed for consideration at a legal meeting, held at least 
one week previous to that on which final action shall be taken. 



20 

APPENDIX C 

Technical informalities appearing in the records of the society 
relative to apparent failure to file the original organization with 
the Town Clerk for record, changes of name without authority 
of the General Court, etc. An act of confirmation was passed 
by the General Court of 1886 as follows : 

Chap. 40. An Act to confirm and make valid the organization 
and proceedings of the South Groton Christian Union of Ayer, 
and to change the name of said organization. Be it enacted etc., 
as follows : 

Sect. i. The organization as a corporation of the South 
Groton Christian Union, afterward known as The First Congre- 
gational Unitarian Society and as The First Unitarian Parish of 
Ayer and by other names, which organization was originally 
effected on the twelfth day of August in the year eighteen hun- 
dred and fifty-five under general laws, and all gifts, devises, be- 
quests and conveyances to, and all conveyances and transfers by, 
said corporation, of real or personal estate under either of said 
names or under whatsoever name the same shall have been made, 
and the records of said corporation under whatsoever name the 
same appear to be written ; and all the acts done and performed 
by its officers in their official or supposed official capacities .as 
officers of said corporation, or by committees, are hereby fully 
ratified and confirmed, and the same shall be taken and deemed 
to be good and valid in law to all intents and purposes whatso- 
ever, and the several persons now appearing by the records of 
said corporation to have been chosen as officers or committees 
thereof at its last annual meeting are hereby authorized to per- 
form all their respective official duties until their successors shall 
be chosen and qualified. But nothing in this act shall be con- 
strued to continue in force any by-law of said corporation repug- 
nant to the laws of the Commonwealth. 

Sect. 2. The corporate name of said society shall be The 
First Unitarian Parish of Ayer. 

Sect. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. 

(Official certification by the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate 
and approval of the Governor.) 

House of Representatives, March 3, 1886. Passed to be enacted. J. Q. 
A. Brackett, Speaker. 

In Senate, March 4, 1886. Passsed to be enacted. A. E. Pillsbury, Pres- 
ident. 

March 5, 1886. Approved. Geo. D. Robinson. 



(Drirjiniil 'i)nmn, 

Written by Mr. FIobart Clark, for the occasion of the 
ordination of Mr. A. E. Goodnough, Sept. ii, 1878. 



In gold and crimson garments clad, 
The hills and valleys far and near 

Proclaim, O Lord ! in chorus glad 
Thy coronation of the year. 

May we, thy children gathered now, 

Intent to do a work of thine, 
P>om this thy faithful year learn how 

To make our work like its, divine. 

Thro' storm and sunshine, mist and rain. 
In might fulfilling all thy word, 

Steadfast as earth may we remain 
Until our inmost life is stirred. 

As all in nature moves, with might 

May we press on, hand, mind, and soul ; 

Pastor and people towards thy light 
Until true faith shall make us whole. 

May every earnest thought and deed, 
May every sweet and sacred song. 

Each spoken word, each prayer like seed 
Of thine, with our whole might be strong. 

So shall the autumn of our years 

With asters crowned and golden rod. 

Bear its full fruit and ripened ears ; 
Our might shall be the might of God. 



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